Disposable toothbrush with selfcontained dentifrice



Jan. 19, 1965 P. H. TUSETH 3,165,776

DISPOSABLE TQOTHBRUSH WITH SELF-CONTAINEU DENTIFRICE Filed May 29, 196315 la 34 II IV I 2 IIIIII'HIIWIQ;

IN VEN TOR Pup/M13611].

United States Patent Ofilice 3,165,776 DISPOSABLE TGOTHBRUSH WETH SELF-CQNTAINED DENTEFRICE Philip H. Tuseth, 3717 N. 26th St, Waco,,Tex. FiledMay 29, 1953, Sie'r. No. 284,107 4 (Iiairns; (Ur. 15539) This inventionrelates to hygiology and more particularly to that branch of hygiologythat deals with the teeth.

One of mans first thoughts was that of finding ways of keeping the bodyclean and therefore increasing ones life by preventing body decay. Manearly observed that his teeth were subject to premature decay unlesskept clean, and this has resuled' in the inveniton of both thetoothbrush and dentifrice in many different forms. However, with all ofthe many improvements in this field, which is known to the averageperson as dental hygiene, man has .to' this instant failed to provide adisposable toothbrush at a price which permits one to have a toothbrushand dentifrice for each time where he may be.

he cleans his teeth, nomatter Another object of this invention is topfovide an invention of the character described that can be filled witheither tooth paste or tooth powder, or it may have the dentifriceimpreganted into the bristles of the brush.

Another object of this invention is to provide a;disposa ble toothbrushwith selfcontained dentifrice that'talges up no more'room in ones pocketor luggage than the ordinary toothbrush without dentifrice.

ble toothbrush with self-contained dentifrice that can be manufacturedat a price low enough'to be sold by means of coin-operated machinesplaced in anypublic rest room or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a disposable toothbrushwith self-contained dentifrice that is sanitary by reason of its beingin a dust free container.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide a disposa- :4

Still another object of this invention is to provide .a dis- 7 posabletoothbrush with self-contained dentifrice that is used only once andthen thrown away.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain means'for carrying out theinvention, such disclosed means illustrating," however, but several ofvarious ways in which the principle of the invention may bevused.

Inthe annexed drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a sideview of the toothbrush portion of this inventionWithout the dentifrice.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of this invention with selfcontained liquiddentifrice."

FIGURE 3 as side view of this invention with self- FIGURE 5 is a sideview-of the dentifrice sack show- I 'ing one form of release tab.

rrouan's is a top view r- IGURES.

The covering cap is shown in cross section. A

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of that portion of FIGURE 3 that isenclosed within the arrowed circle and indicated by'the numeral 7 inFIGURE 3.

FIGURE S-is a side View of still another form of the bristle end of thisinvention in whichthe dentifrice is in the form of powder placed amongthe bristles. The covering cap is shown in cross section.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generallyindicated by the character 11' a typical toothbrush having a handle 12',one end of which terminates in a base 13 having a ledge 14 at theintersection of one end of the base and one end of the aforesaid handle12; A bristle supporting member 15, on which is mounted one end of aplurality of bristles 16, is suitably secured to the aforesaid base 13by any desired method.

A sack 17 of any flexible plastic material, or its equivalent, isfilledwith aliquid or paste type dentifrice and placed'upon the top 18of the bristles 16, as one can see on examining FIGURES 2 and 3 of theannexed drawing, where his to be noted that the aforesaid sack shown inFIGURE 2 isprovided with a tear. tab 19 that extends from the folded end2% of the aforesaid sack 17 back under the sack and through the slot 21in the end 22 of the covering cap 23, where it, the tear tab 19,terminates in a free end 24, as is shown in FIGURE 2'of the drawing.This novel construction provides an efiicient and compact disposabletoothbrush with self-contained liquid or paste dentifrice, which isexpedited in its free flow from the aforesaid sack 17when the free end24 of the tear tab 19 is pulled'outwardly, the sack thus being pressedagainst the end'22' of the covering cap 23, which is in the form of ahollow rectangle or therlike and is preferably made from transparent oropaque plastic or its equivalent. The "covering cap 23 isiprovided witha bottom opening 25 in order that it may be placed-over thetop of theplurality ofb'ristles '16 andthe sack 17, thereby providinga compactdisposable toothbrush with self-contained dentifrice.

, An optional form; or construction is shown in FIG- URES 3, 5, and 6,where it isseenthat the sack 17 is provided with a small strip ofadhesive tape 26 that has one "end '27 secured to theLfrontand underside28 of the sack 17, while the other end 29 of the same tape is secured tothe front end 30 of the aforesaid covering cap' 23 in order to hold thesack in position ontop of the bristles 16 after its tear tab 19,has-been removed as previouslyv described. The sack 17, of'course, canbe filled With tooth powder instead of a liquid or paste if so'desired,

or the invention can be modified byhaving the sack 17 i left out, asshown in FIGURE 8, and the bristles16 of the toothbrush il'filled withtooth powder. In this forrn of the invention the covering cap isindicated onthe drawing by the reference character 31-instead of2 3 aspreviousi'y done, since thecoveringcap in this instance has its top 32fitting directly over the top 38 of the bristles 16, rather than beinglocated highenough above the bris- I toothbrush,.the lower edge 33' ofone end of the covering cap is characterized by the reference numeral319 in-FIG- URE 7 of the. annexed drawing and is turned unde'r in ahorizontal position to fit into the recess. formed in one lower end 34of. the bristle supporting member 15, thereby providing anefiicient-method of holding'the'aforesaid covering cap in position onthe toothbrush. The other three lower edges ofthe covering capfitisnuglyagainst Patented [Jane 19, 1965 tear tab inthis form the periphery ofthe just mentioned bristle supporting member 15 in a way that Willprevent any dust or dirt from entering the inside of the cap and gettingon the bristles 16 of the toothbrush.

It is, of course, understood that changes can be made in the actualshape and size of this invention and it will still fall within the scopeand intent of the appended claims. For example, the covering cap canhave a rounded top and ends and be made of any desired material, as canthe toothbrush itself. The bristles 16 of the toothbrush can also varyin height and shape, and the entire device can be made in any color. Theshape and length of the handle 12 .can also vary according to themanufacturers preference,

In accordance with the provisions of the United States patent statutes,as stated in the United States Code Title 35, Patents, I have nowdescribed the principle of construction and assembly of my invention inthe form which I personally consider the best embodiment thereof, andwhat I now claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A disposable toothbrush with self-contained dentifrice of thecharacter described, comprising, a toothbrush having a plurality ofbristles located at one end thereof and a handle at the opposite endthereof, a sack filled with dentifrice and positioned adjacent the tipsof said bristles, said sack having a tearable portion with a free endfor releasing said dentifrice, and a covering cap for encasing saidbristles and said sack filled with said dentifrice, said dentifricebeing released onto said tips of said bristles of the said toothbrushwhen said free end of said tearable portion of said sack is pulled.

2. A disposable toothbrush with self-contained dentifrice of thecharacter described, comprising, a toothbrush having a plurality ofbristles located at one end thereof and a handle at the opposite endthereof, a sack filled with dentifrice and positioned adjacent'the tipsof said 'bristles, said sack having a tearable portion with a. freefrice of the character described, comprising, a toothbrush having aplurality of bristles located at one end thereof and a handle at theopposite end thereof, a plastic flexible sack filled with liquiddentifrice and positioned adjacent the tips of said bristles, said sackhaving a tearable tab which extends from one end of said sack to theopposite end of said sack and terminates in a free end for releasingsaid dentifrice, and a covering cap for encasing said bristles and saidsack filled with said dentifrice and having an aperture provided thereinfor passing said free end of said tearable tab therethrough, saiddentifrice being released on to said tips of said bristles of the saidtoothbrush when said free end of said tearable tabe of said sack ispulled through said aperture in said casing.

4. A disposable toothbrush with self-contained dentirice of thecharacter described, comprising, a toothbrush having a plurality ofbristles located at one end thereof and a handle at the opposite endthereof, a plastic flexible sack filled with liquid dentifrice andpositioned adjacent the tips of said bristles, said sack having atearable tab which extends from one end of said sack to the opposite endof said sack and terminates in a free end for releasing said dentifrice,a covering cap for encasing said bristles and said sack filled with saiddentifrice and having an aperture provided therein for passing said freeend of said tearable tab therethrough, said dentifrice being releasedonto said tips of said bristles of the said toothbrush when said freeend of said tearable tab of said sack is pulled through said aperture insaid casing, and adhesive tape means having one end secured to the endof said sack opposite said end thereof having the free end of saidtearable tab and the other end of said adhesive tape means secured tothe corresponding end of said covering cap so that said sack can be heldon said tips of said bristles until all of said liquid dentifrice hasflowed onto the tips of said bristles of said toothbrush.

. References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,783 1/25Mendoza 132---84 1,619,946 3/27 Magee 206-46 2,121,373 6/38 Turner 115-167 2,550,190 4/51 Greenberg 13284 2,917,057 12/59 Busseuil 132-84 ICHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner,

1. A DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH WITH SELF-CONTAINED DENTIFRICE OF THECHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING, A TOOTHBRUSH HAVING A PLURALITY OFBRISTLES LOCATED AT ONE END THEREOF AND A HANDLE AT THE OPPOSITE ANDTHEREOF, A SACK FILLED WITH DENTIFRICE AND POSITIONED ADJACENT THE TOPSOF SAID BRISTLES, SAID SACK HAVING A TEARABLE PORTION WITH A FREE ENDFOR RELEASING SAID IDENTIFRICE, AND A COVERING CAP FOR ENCASING SAIDBRISTLES AND SAID SACK FILLED WITH SAID DENTIFRICE, SAID DENTRIFICEBEING RELEASED ONTO SAID TIPS OF SAID BRISTLES OF THE SAID TOOTHBRUSHWHEN SAID FREE END OF SAID TEARABLE PORTION OF SAID SACK IS PULLED.